Nagoya, September 19 (Daily Kiran) : Quimcy D’Souza, representing India, faced a tough defeat in the semifinals of techball at the Asian Games 2026 held at the Nagoya City Higashi Sports Center on Saturday. D’Souza lost to Indonesia’s Ima Sumaya with a score of 1-2, dashing her hopes for a gold medal.
The 24-year-old athlete started confidently, winning the first set 12-7. However, Sumaya mounted a strong comeback in the second set, overcoming an early deficit to claim it 12-9, which led to a decisive third set.
D’Souza began the final set with a 3-0 lead, extending it to 4-1. Yet, Sumaya rallied back to take control and ultimately won the set 12-7, securing her place in the finals.
With this loss, D’Souza will now compete for the bronze medal against world number 7, Yuina Sakamoto, on Sunday. A victory would mark India’s first medal in techball at the Asian Games.
Earlier in the tournament, D’Souza had an impressive run, topping her group with two wins. She kicked off her campaign with a notable victory over top-seeded Yuina Sakamoto, winning 2-1 after losing the first set 10-12. D’Souza bounced back to win the second set 12-11 and clinched the deciding set 13-11.
She maintained her momentum in her second group match, defeating Cambodia’s Koemian D.Y. in straight sets, 12-9, 12-7. This performance secured her a direct spot in the semifinals, avoiding the quarter-finals.
In addition to her singles competition, D’Souza also participated in mixed doubles alongside Mohammad Anas Imran Baig, where they won their first group match against the Philippines’ Joanna Abulensia and Prince Agustin.
Techball, a sport developed in Hungary, combines elements of football with a curved table, resembling a mix of freestyle football and sepak takraw.
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